"We Had Consensual Sex" Accused Rapist Tells Jury

A Scottish businessman has denied raping a drunken City worker in his hotel room, insisting the pair had consensual sex.

The 26 year-old woman, who enjoyed an all-day brandy and wine celebration with office colleagues, claims she was raped by graduate William Paton, 30.

Privately-educated Paton, who attended £12,00 a-year Hutcheson’s Grammar School and the University of Strathclyde told a jury he had little memory of the night.

He had travelled down from his home in Fruin Avenue, Newton Mearns to attend an event hosted by a City of London livery company and met the woman while out drinking afterwards.

Paton told Blackfriars Crown Court: “I would never, ever take advantage of a woman. There’s absolutely no way that I would rape any woman.”

The mathematics grad, who works for his family’s nationwide taxi insurance and maintenance company, said: “She didn’t wake up with me on top of her. We had consensual sex.”

Three days later he was arrested on the front driveway of his family’s £400,000 house by four waiting police officers.

“When they said rape I took a few steps back and thought: ‘There’s something not right here. They’ve got the wrong guy.’

“In the journey in the police car I thought there must have been some mistake and was later told I’d been id’d forensically, but couldn’t remember being with a girl.”

He later retraced his steps that night with his father in an attempt to jog his memory.

“The one thing I can remember is her getting out of bed and leaving quietly. She did not wake up having sex with me.”

Paton told the jury even though he had no recollection of being with the complainant there must have been consent because he is not a rapist.

He has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape on March 4, last year.

The trial continues……….

Scot Denies Raping Drunken City Worker In Hotel Room After London Black-Tie Function

Paton Arriving At Blackfriars Crown Court

A City worker, who enjoyed an all-day brandy and wine celebration with office colleagues, claims she was raped in a visiting Scotsman’s hotel room at the end of the night, a court heard.

The 26 year-old claims she woke from the pub crawl to find Glasgow graduate William Paton, 30, having sex with her in his Holiday Inn room on March 4, last year.

Privately-educated Paton, who attended £12,00 a-year Hutcheson’s Grammar School and the University of Strathclyde, says the woman consented.

He has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape.

He had travelled down from his home in Fruin Avenue, Newton Mearns to attend an event hosted by a City of London livery company and met the woman while out drinking afterwards.

“The next thing I remember was being rocked and seeing someone there, I freaked out,” she told the Blackfriars Crown Court jury.

“I did not know if it was real or not and I remember crying in the toilet,” she added. “I scared myself that I could drink that much.”

She told the court she was “eight out of ten” on a scale of total inebriation, having started on cranberry juice at noon and progressing to double brandy and coke, plus wine.

“I know what I get like when I start too early,” agreeing she was ‘binge drinking’ that day. “I think a lot of people do my age, I don’t think I’m alone there.

“Before this happened and I was out I never wanted to go home. I just wanted to enjoy myself.”

Prosecutor Mr. Jonathan Loades told the jury after the lunchtime celebration the complainant continued drinking at The Dickens Inn, St. Katherine’s Dock and met Paton at The Dirty Martini, Bishopsgate.

She told the jury she regrets not catching the train opposite the bar and returning home to her long-term boyfriend.

The pair continued partying at Whites strip club, Aldgate, before going to Paton’s Whitechapel hotel, where they were filmed on CCTV.

“Exiting the lift she nearly falls into the flower pot. It is the Crown’s case she was very drunk at this point,” explained Mr. Loades.

“She next thing she remembers is being in her words: ‘Rocked.’ She felt herself rocking backwards and forwards as Mr. Paton was having sex with her.

“She did not know how he got there or what was going on and had one leg of her tights and one of her boots off.

“She pushed him off and went downstairs and bumped into a stranger, who seeing her distress call the police.”

Paton was arrested in Scotland, questioned in Carlisle and DNA linked him with the woman.

Trial continues………..

Ladbrokes Employee Nicked £1300 In Winning Wagers

Ladbrokes, Northolt Road

A betting-shop employee ripped off lucky punters by cashing in their winning tickets for himself.

Sabeshan Karunasegaram, 22, worked for high street gambling giants Ladbrokes at their branch in Northolt Road, South Harrow.

He pocketed £1,300 in winning wagers after taking the tickets to another Ladbrokes and passing himself off as a successful punter.

Karunasegaram, of Padda Court, Northolt Road, Harrow was bailed by Uxbridge Magistrates Court for a pre-sentence report.

He pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation, namely cashing in tickets from several different customers, on July 14.

Karunasegaram was sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months.

He was also ordered to perform 250 hours community service work, pay £1300 compensation to Ladbrokes and £85 costs.

High-Living Cheat Nicked £50K Porsche

A mum-of-three with a taste for the high life has been sentenced for nicking a £50,000 Porsche Cayenne she obtained with finance.

Tania Stultz, 30, was claiming benefits when a £14,000 deposit was paid on the black 3-litre vehicle and ten £756.69 monthly payments were made.

However, the payments stopped and Stultz, of Albany Road, Chislehurst continued driving around in the prestige car until a police officer discovered it parked in Bexleyheath.

She was convicted by a Croydon Crown Court jury of stealing the vehicle from finance company Money Barn Ltd. on October 7, 2014.

On Friday she was sentenced to a twelve-month community order, which includes a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

In July, 2015 she received a suspended prison sentence for a four-year £21,000 benefit fraud during which she failed to declare £375,000 in 15 bank accounts.

During this period she spent thousands of pounds on designer goods and enjoyed luxury holidays in Barbados, Jamaica, Disney World and Egypt.

She sent her two eldest daughters to an £8,000 a-year private school, but on Friday the court heard she is now heavily in debt.

She continues to have her benefit payments deducted to compensate the earlier fraud and says she owes her dad £7,000.

The court heard Stultz, who was using a crutch for mobility, has now split with her previous partner, who received five years imprisonment for a £3.3m fraud on his employers.

Judge Adam Hiddleston told her: “At a time you appear to have had the necessary means you took out finance for this prestige motor vehicle, a Porsche.

“A time came when you could not afford to keep up the payments and your action amounted to a theft.”

Paedo Tempted Boy Victim With Free Fags

A former employee of the world’s largest tobacco company, who groomed a young boy he abused in the 1970’s with free cigarettes, has been locked-up for seven years.

Pensioner Graham Saunders, 78, of Town Lane, Charlesworth, Glossop, Derbyshire began preying on the youngster when the boy was approximately eleven or twelve years-old.

He was unanimously convicted by a Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court jury of three counts of indecent assault and two counts of indecency with a child.

The court heard Saunders worked for British American Tobacco and went on to work at Manchester Polytechnic and took up other teaching roles.

Some of the abuse occurred during trips to the Lake District and in south-west London and the victim continues to be haunted by the abuse to this day.

Judge Timothy Lamb QC told him: “I have to recognise the psychological effect is still there. This was predatory behaviour upon a boy aged as young as eleven years-old.”

Sentencing had been delayed to allow Saunders to undergo heart by-pass surgery and his lawyer Mr. Mark Watson said: “His health is poor, but improving.”

The boy was abused between the ages of eleven and fourteen, when he was touched intimately by Saunders and forced to perform sex acts on the defendant.

“Since that time there has been no further offending,” added Mr. Watson. “He has done a world of good for many, many people.

“He is under no illusions as to the sentence that will be passed and that has weighed very heavily upon him.

“This is an elderly man with age and regret.”

Fatal Cannabis Factory Fire: Suspected Grower Charged With Manslaughter

Fire Charge: Bowen

A suspected cannabis grower, accused of starting a fatal fire which claimed a man’s life, has appeared in court for the first time charged with manslaughter.

Ricky Bowen, 30, of Nunhead Grove, Peckham is charged with unlawfully killing 25 year-old Grant Fenn, who spent three months in a coma after the explosion.

He reportedly suffered 98% burns and was placed in an induced coma at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, where he passed away on August 2, last year.

In the early hours of April 11 the caretaker’s room at Coniston House, Wyndham Road, Camberwell burst into flames.

Father-of-one Mr. Fenn was airlifted to hospital with another man, who was also treated for injuries and discharged.

Afterwards police revealed the room was being used to cultivate cannabis.

Bowen appeared at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court charged with the manslaughter of Mr. Bowen on August 2.

He will next appear at the Old Bailey on October 5.

Bowen is also charged with arson with intent or recklessness as to whether life was endangered on April 11 and being concerned in the production of cannabis.

Alongside him in the dock was 24 year-old Katherine Granger, of Draper House, Wyndham Estate, Elephant and Castle.

She is charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice by giving a false witness statement to the police on May 13, last year.

Granger is also charged with permitting the supply of cannabis at her home address on April 10 and will also appear at the Old Bailey on the same date.

Kids Nanny Was Prompted To Download Sick Child Pics

Court Date: Ede-Borrett

A children’s nanny, who downloaded child porn images, was bailed for sentencing yesterday.

Elliana Ede-Borrett, 23, of Sumner Road, Croydon says she was prompted by an unknown person to obtain the sick images.

She appeared at Inner London Crown Court, where she will return on October 27 after mental health and probation reports are prepared.

Ede-Borrett had already pleaded guilty at her first appearance at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court to three counts of making indecent images of children between September 23, 2015 and May 3, last year.

These relate to 12 Category A images - the most serious - 18 Category B images and 17 Category C images.

The first-time offender has lived in a hostel for vulnerable adults since her arrest in May, last year.

None of the images relate to the children she was looking after.

“The Crown accept it was at the instigation of another,” said prosecutor Mr. Bill McGivern. “There is nothing to say she has an independent interest in the material.”

First-time offender Ede-Borrett’s lawyer Miss Farah Ahmed said: “There is an application for two reports. The defence solicitors have been trying to obtain either a psychological or psychiatric report.

“She is twenty-three and has no previous convictions. 

“Issues have been raised as to suicide attempts and issues in her childhood.”

The court heard Ede-Borrett no longer has any relationship with the second person, who was not identified.

Judge Stephen Dawson announced: “This is an unusual case. The Crown say that by what the police have gleaned it is not a case where the defendant herself has a proclivity to look at these sort of images and that she was manipulated by another.

“The issue, if there is one, is to protection of the public and herself from being in a situation like this.

“Maybe the probation service do not have much to offer.”

'Starred Up' Actor Catches A Break: Court Drops Strict Driving Condition

A former inmate, who appeared in brutal prison film ‘Starred Up’ and crashed his Mercedes into a wall when chasing two knifemen, will not have to pass an extended driving test after all.

Basil Abdul-Latif, 31, was slashed across the arm during a confrontation with two unknown cycle-riding males and lost control while speeding after them.

However, he was still subject to a driving ban after two motoring offences.

Abdul-Latif, of Damorie House, Sandmere Road, Clapham received 120 hours community service on Friday and must pay £200 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court re-listed the case and ruled he no longer needed to retake an extended driving test before his license can be returned.

He was cast as prisoner Mubarak in the 2013 film - starring Jack O’Connell - after meeting scriptwriter Jonathan Asser in HMP Wandsworth, who he credits with changing his life.

Abdul-Latif pleaded guilty to driving his white two-litre Mercedes Benz E class carelessly in Beechcroft Road, Tooting on February 1.

He also admitted driving while disqualified.

Abdul-Latif was originally disqualified for four years in 2010 when he received a suspended prison sentence for aggravated vehicle-taking.

He flouted the ban 18 months later and received a suspended sentence for driving while disqualified and was ordered to pass an extended driving test before his licence could be returned.

When questioned by police he admitted he “lost control” after the violent confrontation, which involved the two unknown cyclists and his younger cousin.

After appearing on the red carpet for the ‘Starred Up’ premiere Abdul-Latif revealed he was first locked-up, aged sixteen years-old, when he smashed up a mosque.

He has stayed out of prison since his last sentence was completed in 2009.

Croydon Cop Cleared Of GBH

Not Guilty: PC Fackerell

A police officer was finally cleared yesterday of a violent attack while off-duty.

PC Alex Fackerell, 23, had the charge against him dropped when he appeared on bail for trial at Croydon Crown Court.

The Borough of Croydon officer and Bradley Cody, 24, had both been charged with one count of causing grievous bodily harm.

The charge related to an incident in Sutton High Street on November 1, last year.

PC Fackerell was arrested on December 5 and charged on March 10, this year.

Cody also had the GBH charge against him reduced to one of causing actual bodily harm and was bailed to return for trial on October 23.

Pensioner Denies Decades-Old Sexual Abuse Of Two Girls

Isleworth Crown Court

A pensioner repeatedly raped a 14 year-old girl four decades ago and subjected another young girl to a similar ordeal years later, a court heard yesterday.

Joseph Francis, 77, of Stearne Close, Thetford, Norfolk denies the charges, which are alleged to have occurred at his former address in Yeldham Road, Hammersmith.

“He came into her bedroom, pushing the wardrobe towards the door,” prosecutor Mr. Timothy Naik told the Isleworth Crown Court jury. 

“Before this there was a period of what we now call 'grooming' when he made inappropriate advances while telling her how much he cared for her.”

The 14 yer-old fell pregnant as a result and had an abortion just days after her fifteenth birthday in 1973.

“The first time it happened was on the floor. He held her down and told her to open her legs and that continued sometimes two or three times a week,” explained Mr. Naik.

“It became repetitive and familiar to her. She says she tried to stop him, but if she was physical he would beat her and become more physical.”

A complaint was made at the time of the alleged offences, but Francis was never charged.

He was arrested after a second female complained he sexually abused her approximately ten years ago when she was 15 years-old.

“Mr. Francis turned the conversation and said he would teach her what it would be like to be sixteen years-old and proceeded to take his trousers down.”

The prosecution say the young girl was then forced to perform a sex act on the defendant that amounts to rape.

“She complained and he stopped and she ran into the toilet,” said Mr. Naik.

Francis was arrested in September, 2014. “He denied the allegations and said they were totally untrue. He said that it was nonsense.”

He has pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape in relation to the first girl; plus one count of sexual assault and two counts relating to sexual acts he allegedly made her perform on him.

In relation to the second girl he has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape.

Trial continues..........

Boyfriend Denies DIY Umbrella Abortion Attempt

Isleworth Crown Court

An expectant-dad threatened his abused girlfriend with a knife and umbrella as he tried to perform a DIY abortion on their four-month old fetus, a court heard today.

Angry Rakim Dwayne Braithwaite, 27, inserted the knife as his 26 year-old partner screamed then approached her with the umbrella before a worried neighbour called 999, the jury were told.

He has pleaded not guilty to using an instrument, with intent to procure a miscarriage on May 16, last year and engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour between December 29, 2015 and November 21, last year.

Isleworth Crown Court heard Braithwaite, of Hicks Avenue, Greenford, threatened to “beat” the baby out of Sara Snoussi and stab her with a bottle.

He donned plastic gloves and played an internet video of a home-abortion on his television while ordering his girlfriend to lie down and remove her trousers, the court was told.

“She screamed out and he put a pillow on her face to stop the screams,” said prosecutor Mr. David Markham. 

“He came at her with an umbrella and then came at her with a kitchen knife, with a condom on it and the tip was inserted into her vagina.”

A neighbour heard her screaming: “Please stop. You’re hurting me,” explained Mr. Markham, but Ms Snoussi refused to talk to officers when they arrived.

Fortunately she gave birth to a healthy baby boy in October,

last year.

The woman says Braithwaite threatened her with violence if she did not contact an abortion clinic; made phone calls in her presence to arrange violent attacks on her and punched her in the face.

She says he also threatened to stab her in the womb; threatened to visit her at work and “smash” her face and “beat the child out of her” and said he would kill her and throw acid in her face.

“His intention at the time, we say, was while in temper to end the pregnancy,” said Mr. Markham. 

“His girlfriend stayed with him throughout the period out of love and loyalty to him. She was scared to lose him, such was the grip he exerted over her.”

They met in 2014 and the court heard Braithwaite vowed to post a video of her performing oral sex on him over the internet.

“He threatened to throw her off a tall building and would hit her across the face, giving her a black eye,” said Mr. Markham.

Braithwaite tried to exploit the pregnancy to obtain a council property for them and concocted the fake eviction of Ms Snoussi from her mother’s home, the trial heard.

Eventually she reported Braithwaite to the police on November 26, last year and he was arrested on December 11.

“He denied trying to harm the unborn child. He said she had a problem with drugs and had been taking drugs and self-harming and said she did not want the baby.

“He said there was a custody battle and the accusations were made to destroy his chances of having his son.”

Trial continues…………..

Ex-Inmate Who Appeared In Prison Film 'Starred Up' Crashed Merc While Banned

An inmate-turned-actor, who appeared in brutal prison film ‘Starred Up', crashed his Mercedes into a wall when chasing two knifemen while he was disqualified from driving.

Basil Abdul-Latif, 31, was slashed across the arm during a confrontation with two unknown cycle-riding males and lost control while speeding after them.

However, he was still subject to a driving ban, having not passed a court-ordered extended test after two motoring offences.

Abdul-Latif, of Damorie House, Sandmere Road, Clapham received 120 hours community service on and must pay £200 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

He was cast as prisoner Mubarak in the 2013 film - starring Jack O’Connell - after meeting scriptwriter Jonathan Asser in HMP Wandsworth, who he credits with changing his life.

Abdul-Latif pleaded guilty to driving his white two-litre Mercedes Benz E class carelessly in Beechcroft Road, Tooting on February 1.

He also admitted at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court to driving while disqualified.

“On that day you were in an altercation with two young men and received a serious stab wound to your arm,” Recorder John Kingston told Abdul-Latif.

“You were seriously injured, which is likely to have impaired your ability to drive, but it was near a school and pedestrians were in danger of serious injury or being killed.

“You drove a short distance in pursuit of those that had stabbed you and crashed your car and were carrying a passenger when you crashed.”

Abdul-Latin was originally disqualified for four years in 2010 when he received a suspended prison sentence for aggravated vehicle-taking.

He flouted the ban 18 months later and received a suspended sentence for driving while disqualified and was ordered to pass an extended driving test before his licence could be returned.

However, Abdul-Latif passed only an ordinary test in 2015 and remains disqualified.

Despite the ban he held a driving job with the Highways Agency, the court heard, and says he has turned his life around since meeting a new girlfriend while on probation three years ago.

Abdul-Latif claims he did not know he was still banned and is now looking for part-time work on the railways.

When questioned by police he admitted he “lost control” after the violent confrontation, which involved the two unknown cyclists and his younger cousin.

After appearing on the red carpet for the ‘Starred Up’ premiere Abdul-Latif revealed he was first locked-up, aged sixteen years-old, when he smashed up a mosque.

He has stayed out of prison since his last sentence was completed in 2009.

"Celebrity Hugger" Reality TV Superfan Bailed On Wayne Woodward Harassment Charge

Court Date: Macintosh

A “celebrity hugger” reality tv superfan has appeared in court for the second time accused of harassing Britain’s Got Talent runner-up Wayne Woodward and assaulting his sister.

Tania Macintosh, 26, of Hartland Road, Morden is accused of repeatedly asking the 22 year-old singer, who was second in the 2016 series, for a ‘cuddle and a kiss’ at public engagements.

She appeared at Croydon Magistrates Court, which bailed her until November 14 on condition she does not contact Woodward or his sister Maxine.

A thirty-page psychiatric report had been prepared for the hearing, which was told Macintosh has Asperger’s Syndrome.

Macintosh appeared in the dock wearing a t-shirt sporting a photograph of herself hugging X-Factor judge Louis Walsh and carrying a notebook emblazoned with images of Woodward, a photo of whom she also has on her keyring.

Macintosh is charged with pursuing a course of conduct amounting to the harassment of Woodward between May 27 and July 8 in the Sutton area.

BGT's Woodward

This consists of repeatedly requesting a “cuddle and kiss” at public events knowing he did not wish to and causing damage to his vehicle on June 17 by removing his car’s number plate and turning up unannounced at his address and continually contacting him by telephone.

Macintosh is also charged with assaulting his sister Maxine Woodward in Sutton on July 8 by beating.

Her first court appearance on the charges was last month. 

Wayne and girlfriend Abbie Jarvis announced in March they were having a baby boy, which he intends naming Frank, after his hero Sinatra.

After finishing as runner-up last year to musician Richard Jones he failed to land a deal with Simon Cowell’s label Syco.

Despite this Woodward released the album N.U.M.B and single Animal this summer.

GUILTY: Airplane Groper Who Pawed Woman During Flight

A plane passenger, who groped the breast of a mum sitting with her two young children in front of him, has been unanimously convicted by a jury.

“I felt him putting his hand through the gap in the seats and he grabbed my right breast,” she told Isleworth Crown Court.

“On a scale of one to ten it was a five. It was not painful, but it was definitely felt.”

Saranjeet Bassi, 28, of Craiglea, Causewayhead, Stirling, Scotland was found guilty of sexually assaulting the woman on the Qatar Airways flight to London Heathrow on December 12, last year.

He will return to court for sentencing on November 17.

She said drunken Bassi began playing with her eighteen month-old son between the seats just twenty minutes after taking off from Doha, Qatar.

“He said: ‘What a cute child, can I offer him a sweet?’ I said: ’No’ because I could smell alcohol on his breath and did not want anything to do with him.

“It was quite strong. I could smell it on his breath even when not talking to him.”

The woman, who was also travelling with her seven year-old, told the jury she confronted Bassi after being groped.

“I stood up immediately and said: ‘Excuse me, that’s not called for’ and gave him a look of disgust and he just stared at me.”

She complained to cabin crew, but Bassi refused to move, later telling police to do so would be an admission of wrongdoing.

Because she was in a baby seat with a cot the mum had to remain where she was. “I was helpless, upset, I couldn’t do anything about it and had no chance, but to sit there.”

Two hours later she felt further contact from Bassi, she said. “I felt a foot rubbing my foot under the seat.”

Again she complained to the flight crew and the defendant again refused to budge.

“When he was asked to move he became quite rude and aggressive and said he had not done anything wrong and had been asleep all the time.

“I was humiliated, embarrassed and very upset.”

Bassi was arrested at Heathrow. “He denied grabbing her breast and said he was rubbing his foot on the seat in front,” prosecutor Mr. Jonathan Wright told the jury.

“He said he did not move because that would be an admission of wrongdoing.”

Somalian Wins Right To Fight £39K Benefit Fraud Plea

A Somalian refugee, who admitted continuing to receive nearly £39,000 in benefits after returning to his homeland because he missed the sunshine, won the right to reverse his own plea yesterday.

Pensioner Mohamed Qoomaal, 71, had pension credit payments sent to him for two-and-a-half years and a mystery person enjoyed rent-free living in his council-funded home, Isleworth Crown Court heard.

He even forged an immigration stamp on his British passport in a failed attempt to trick investigators into accepting he had been residing in the UK, say the prosecution.

Incredibly Qoomaal, of Archery Close, Harrow continues to receive benefits, minus a £44 per-week deduction to compensate the Department of Work and Pensions.

At that rate it will take Qoomaal, who also burdens the NHS with heart and renal issues, seventeen years to repay the £38,869.97p total.

He will return to court on October 30 after Judge Jonathan Ferris reluctantly agreed to hear an application to set the guilty pleas aside and have a jury trial instead.

“If you read the pre-sentence report the dishonesty is acknowledged. The defendant accepted to the probation officer that he failed to declare a change of circumstances and dishonesty was at the heart of that discussion,” said the judge yesterday.

“It was not until I started to sentence him and he realised what I was saying about custody that there was a hiatus caused by his actions and then a contradicted basis on which he had pleaded guilty in the first place.”

Despite arriving in the this country fifteen years ago he also needed a taxpayer-funded interpreter during the court hearing.

“Why does he live here? Why is he entitled to benefits? What’s he doing here?” asked Judge Ferris during a previous hearing.

“He can’t have made much of a contribution to the pension credit he is receiving.”

Qoomaal pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances regarding Pension Credit and Housing Benefit between August 20, 2013 and February 22, 2016.

“He failed to notify the fact he was living abroad in Somalia and in order to mislead investigators he fabricated an immigration stamp in his passport,” said prosecutor Miss Lisa Matthews.

The court heard Qoomaal wanted to live in a warmer climate for health benefits and only returned to the UK when he heard he was wanted for questioning.

“He left the UK on an open ticket and did not return. He gave the keys to his privately-rented flat to a third party, who lived there while he was abroad,” added the prosecutor.

When quizzed Qoomaal tried to lie his way out of trouble, but finally confessed when his legal representative informed him the evidence was overwhelming.

He currently receives a large quantity of free prescription medication and has a series of hospital appointments with departments specialising in cardiology, dialysis and infectious diseases.

“He also has problems with his legs,” said Qoomaal’s lawyer Miss Mariska Van Leeuwen. “He had a heart attack last year and another this year and he has a vast amount of medication with him.”

Qoomaal claimed asylum on the basis he was in danger in his homeland, but this did not prevent his return trip.

“He’s just gone back there, how does that work?” asked Judge Ferris. “He came here as a refugee fifteen years ago and then goes back to Somalia to enjoy the nice weather.

“Someone was living in his flat that the public purse paid for or it was rented out.

“I don’t see why a person who took nearly thirty-nine thousand pounds and went to another country and fabricated an immigration stamp on his passport should not go to prison immediately.

“How can there have been any possible misunderstanding? What ties does he have in this country apart from the benefits system.”